I’ve Been a McFly FAN Since 2003 BUT I Won’t Support Their New Music

July 28, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

Ok, I’m not ashamed to say I’ve LOVED McFly since they began. That first album I could still tell you which song comes after each other. My love for them grew over the years and I’ve been to many gigs per album, followed their journey both music and life and I’ve even managed to meet […]

Challenging the Typical Working from Home Tips

July 5, 2020.Reading time 7 minutes.

Since lockdown began there have been a lot of blogs and articles giving people advice on being “productive as possible” whilst being at home. I look at some of these articles and notice how similar they are and are aimed at people who are non disabled and have a lot of energy. I do think […]

Things I Did Differently at School as a Disabled Child

June 22, 2020.Reading time 10 minutes.

image of Gem Turner in her wheelchair at school

Before I start this blog post, I’m sure most people will have been reading, sharing and wanting to understand the world and what they can do a little more recently around the Black Lives Matter movement. If you’ve been wanting to do “something” to be part of this, but you’re not quite sure what – […]

You don’t have to prove yourself to strangers

May 20, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

Being disabled means you get judged way before people even strike a conversation with you. The common stereotypes I get are: ⁃ aww isn’t she lovely ⁃ bless her it must be hard ⁃ Isn’t it nice she gets out ⁃ She must have a really hard life I found myself from an early age […]

“I never know when to [offer to] help disabled people”

February 17, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

Put ya seatbelts on, because it’s the biggy. The one I always get asked in my talks and workshops *promo alert – I do this kind of thing in real life too if you’d like a session, here is more info*. I hear things like “I never want to be rude” or “I ask everyone […]

Empowering Disabled People to be More Independent

January 16, 2020.Reading time 5 minutes.

Yesterday I had a social worker round to check about my care package etc, and it got me thinking about independence and how important it is for people to see it from the disabled person’s point of view. The meeting went great by the way (yay). Part of why I’m so independent myself is because […]

“I like your hair, did your mum do it for you?”

October 31, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

Ok, let me take you back to 10 years ago… 2009. The year I left high school, the year mum let me box dye my hair nearly black and I was probably texting from my velvet covered Nokia flip phone asking my friends “wuu2?”. I wasn’t as shy as I used to be at this […]

UberAccess showed me how travelling should be | AD

October 19, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

Hello, can I order a taxi please? Phone Operator: Yes of course love, do you want it now? Me: Yes please, I’m in a wheelchair so can I have an accessible one..? Phone Operator: “We don’t do those, I’m afraid” “You’ll have to book at least 24 hrs in advance, and even then you’re pushing […]

Staring: My Honest Experience and Advice

October 10, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

For World Mental Health Day, I’ve decided to tackle a topic that affects me pretty much every day and has a massive impact on my mental health. On a good day, I make an effort with my appearance, I zone it out, I smile or I choose to ignore it. On a bad day, I […]

Planning City Trips as/for a Wheelchair User

September 1, 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

Travelling for a lot of disabled people is hard work. The planning has so many more steps, the mental energy is A LOT and you’re living on the edge not knowing if each step of the journey (no pun intended) is actually as accessible as you are promised. Now, I’m no travel blogger – but […]